Bo
Bo had peeled her Doctor gear off and returned it from where she found it. If only she could find a bandage big enough to fit the cracks of her broken heart. She did not have much to say on the matter. Lauren had a life before her and Bo knew it had to have been something big for Lauren to stay with the Light Fae when she had many chances to run. As far as Bo could see Lauren was only escorted from one place to another. They never touched her unless the Ash ordered them to. Now he was dead and Lauren was truly free.
Bo had come there thinking it was only her being a fugitive that was causing her to be stuck with the Fae. But no. Lauren has a gf. Bo can't even be mad about it. When she looked at Lauren she wanted her all to herself. Who wouldn't? She didn't know this Nadia, she just knew when Lauren said gf, that she had to help her. Had to find a way to wake her up, since shaking her didn't do it. She wasn't sure her pulses would work but she had tested it on dead animals like a butterfly from her childhood.
The damned Fae. Who the hell told them that it was ok to keep Lauren enslaved to them? They hated humans. They hated Bo. But Bo was Fae so she was damn sure going to try her best to help Lauren, Kenzi and any other human stay alive for as long as she was around.
Bo felt like she should have stayed behind to help Lauren but what if Nadia didn't know of the Fae? She took a big enough risk using her powers on the woman. She had to get out of there. She couldn't hold her tears in anymore. Lauren didn't need to see that. She had a patient to attend to and it was no ordinary patient.
What would Bo do now? Run with her tail between her legs? Back home to people that she ordered not to follow her? She didn't have any answers but did the only thing she could think to do of at the time, she found an empty room.
Lauren and Nadia.
"Lauren? What happened? Where are we? Nadia whispered.
"We are at a friends clinic. I have been trying to figure out what was wrong with you for years". Lauren said holding Nadia's hands in hers.
"What friend? Dr. Dennis? Nadia asked.
A lump caught in Lauren's throat. She was so wrapped up in Nadia being awake and talking to her, that she had almost forgotten Bo was standing in front of her less than ten minutes ago.
"Yes. Dr. Dennis is a friend. But no this is not her clinic". Lauren said. Both statements were true. Bo was a friend and she didn't own that clinic. Lauren was shocked that Bo found it so fast and so easily.
"Can...can we go home? Nadia asked. She knew Lauren was a Doctor but she herself never liked hospitals or being fussed over. Her life was out in the elements. Taking pictures of anything she found to be artistic. Lauren was the best subject she had discovered long ago, when Lauren had dropped some medical papers she had written for school in a local park. Nadia had captured a picture or her trying to stop the papers from flying away. Her golden locks flew with the wind that was causing her distress.
"Not right now sweetie. I want to run some tests first to make sure you're ok". Lauren said.
"Lauren you know I hate needles and tests". Nadia said trying to sit up but Lauren kept pushing her weakened body back down.
"I know. I know. Just let me run one batch of tests and I won't poke you again". Lauren said taking some steps back and shifting from gf to Doctor mode.
"But I'm awake. I don't see the need to be poked and prodded. Although I would like to shower and grab a beer later". Nadia said.
Lauren laughed a little. Nadia had been sleep for a long time and would need to shower and wash her hair. When she had mentioned that to the Ash, he scoffed at her thinking she was just looking for a way to escape.
"Tell you what I will help you into the shower and scrub you myself. Then we can run the tests". Lauren said. She was happy to agree to the shower but really wanted to run some tests on Nadia.
"I can wash myself but will agree to one round of testing". Nadia said.
"Nadia. You have been asleep a long time, you're not strong enough to stand on your own". Lauren said.
"I can do this Lauren. Stop hovering already". Nadia snapped.
Lauren sighed. Stop hovering? That's all she had done for five years. Stop hovering? Her hovering was going to lead to her freedom, their freedom or so she had hoped. She didn't hover as much as she wished she could. The Fae were always calling her away from Nadia. One good thing the Ash did was allow her to keep Nadia far from the lab so no unsuspecting or nosy Fae would happen upon Nadia's pod.
She was grateful that nobody other than the Ash knew about Nadia. Namely Dyson. He would have pulled the plug on her just to spite Lauren. He would have told Bo the minute he saw her in the lab and under Lauren's care. He certainly would have told her when she came to him about Bo going after Vex. He has always hated her and this would be huge for him to use against Lauren to get Bo.
Hovering. Lauren could have just left Nadia in her pod and took off. She could have just said I don't know her and ran. She used to feel silly sitting with Nadia and talking to her. It was like she had been visiting someone's grave. The only signs of life she heard was the machines attached to Nadia beeping.
Lauren worked hard for nearly twenty-four hours a day when Nadia first lapsed into her coma. She was certain she was going to wake her up and their lives with the newly discovered Fae would be over. Six months in reality sank in and Lauren sunk to the floor beside Nadia's pod. She cried for hours. Nothing she was doing was working. She had nobody to lean on and nobody to talk to. The only thing waking her out of her mood was her pager going off. It was the Ash calling her for another case. Another of his patients. Like Nadia's life didn't matter.
Lauren didn't like showing her emotions in public, so she cleaned herself up and touched the pod once more on her way out. Taking a deep breath in anger, she discovered a new attitude. This attitude would stick with her for years. She was a Doctor. All she needed to do was keep her feelings away from her job.
It was easy to do. Most of her patients were idiots that wounded themselves and were too dumb to stop doing the same thing over and over again. On the plus side she was learning about all kinds of Fae. What they were. What made them tick. How they responded to treatment. Her curious mind couldn't get enough.
Some fought like they were immortal and then ended up on an exam table. Some she saved. Some were too wounded to survive. Others rejected all of the Doctors choosing to die instead. One was a wolf like Dyson who had lost a fight and refused Dyson's offer of taking him to Lauren. Dyson didn't like her until he needed her to help save one of his friends. The first friend he brought to her that didn't put up a fight was Hale. As a Siren Hale had slightly damaged his throat and after a few rounds of treatment, he was healed. Lauren liked Hale. He was nice to her. He never talked down to her, even in front of Dyson. He was often her go between, between her and the Ash. She preferred him over Dyson any day. Dyson's arrogance and denial that Lauren knew what she was doing had cost them a lot of Fae lives over the years.
Hovering. It was her job. She needed to make sure everything was ok before a patient left her lab. She didn't own this one but wanted to make sure Nadia was ok. She still needed to run tests to see if anything else was wrong with Nadia. In one moment Bo had cured whatever kept her sleeping all of those years. How was that possible? Bo had to be more powerful than Lauren had imagined her to be.
"Lauren? Lauren are you listening to me? Nadia asked.
"I'm sorry? Lauren asked shaking her head. She had apparently been staring at Nadia, lost in her thoughts, and hadn't said a word.
"I asked what I can put on. I'm ready to shower". Nadia said shaking her head.
"Ohhhh. Well I have a pair of jeans and a shirt you can wear". Lauren said walking towards one of the bags she had packed. To be honest all of this was sudden and crazy. Nadia woke up knowing who Lauren was. How was that possible? Was Bo's pulse so strong that it fixed everything in Nadia?
The questions were going to drive Lauren and Nadia batty. More so Lauren because as a Doctor, there wasn't a moment she didn't have questions in her head.
"Can we go then? Nadia asked after taking the clothes from Lauren.
"Yes. Yes". Lauren sighed. She really wanted Nadia to stay in bed but couldn't begrudge the woman for wanting a shower.
Nadia turned to finally get up from the bed. She looked the clothes over. They weren't really her style but she couldn't be picky.
"What are you doing now? Nadia asked raising her head back up.
"I said you could take a shower, I never said you were going to walk to it". Lauren said pushing a wheelchair up to Nadia's bed.
"Lauren that's not necessary. I can walk on my own! Nadia snapped angrily.
Lauren was convinced now. Something was still terribly wrong with Nadia. Even when she would nap, she would never wake up that cranky. Shaking it off she bent down to help Nadia up. She was surprised how strong she looked just standing up.
Still annoyed about it, Nadia took a seat in the wheelchair and allowed Lauren to roll her away.
The Dal
"Tell me you've heard something". Kenzi said taking a drink from Trick.
"No nothing. It's almost as if they vanished". Trick answered.
"Come on Trickster, I know you have better contacts than this. We need to know where they are". Kenzi groaned. She hadn't heard from Bo and didn't like it. She couldn't care less if she heard from Lauren or heard about the Doctor. She betrayed Bo and Kenzi was still sore about that. Dyson did too. The only difference she noticed was that he loved her, so he was all good in her eyes.
"I have people out but only a few". Trick admitted.
"A few? It is no wonder we haven't found them yet". Kenzi seethed.
"Kenzi. Bo doesn't want to be bothered. I've gone against her wishes enough just looking for her". Trick said wiping down the counter top.
"I'm just saying it makes no sense that you can't find her. You! Something's not right about that". Kenzi said.
"Kenzi...don't". Trick warned.
"I'm just saying we both know how powerful you are. You could probably find an ant pissing". Kenzi said taking a shot of Whiskey.
"My powers don't work like that. My men have to be discrete or they will get caught". Trick said. He already knew Bo was going to be fifty shades of pissed off at him, if she spotted anyone that she had seen him talking to before. Besides she hadn't actually said that he couldn't look for her.
He was worried knowing she was a Succubus. She could drain the entire colony in her quest looking for Lauren. Lauren. Why go after Lauren? A human? Even if she's free now she's useless to them. To Bo.
He was angry at Dyson. That idiot has probably blown his shot with Bo. He knew the minute he saw her that he wanted Dyson to be her choice.
Still he needed to find Bo. He never liked a Succubus being on the loose and out of his sight. He swallowed hard when Aife showed up out of nowhere. He thought they were rid of her again. His daughter wasn't one to sit long for anything or anyone. A cold chill ran up and down his spine wondering if they were out there together. Bo seemed to care about human lives, Aife wouldn't spare anyone if it meant protecting Bo.
Kenzi and Trick both jumped when they heard a loud commotion coming from the doorway. Kenzi thought it was Dyson drunk off his ass but no, what they saw was much worse.
"If you send someone to follow her or me again, I will come back and drain your precious Dal Riata of everyone. Starting with you". Aife said dropping two dead bodies in front of Trick.
"Aife what have you done?! Trick asked.
Aife laughed. "Isn't it obvious? I killed them. Serena here was more than happy to tell me who sent her once I told her who I was".
"Aife you shouldn't have done this". Trick said looking over the Fire Fae.
"What did you expect her to do? Burn them? Aife bristled.
"No. I just wanted them to tell me when and where they found Bo". Trick said. He was saddened that Serena was now dead. She was a good friend to Trick and the Ash.
"She doesn't want to be found or followed. Now I will warn you one last time. Stay the hell away from Isabeau". Aife said.
Kenzi was barely holding her liquor at the sight in front of them. Aife used more than her Succubus powers on them.
Trick looked up at Aife. She didn't look worried to him at all. This was not the same way she looked since the last time he saw her.
"You! You know where they are don't you? Trick asked angrily.
"What's it matter? You won't find them". Aife laughed. It was true. She had the third deadliest Succubus guarding Bo and Lauren. There was no way Trick's goons were going to infiltrate the compound.
"Tell me where they are! Trick screamed.
"And if I don't? What are you going to do? Hand me over to the Dark again? Evony is still picking her ass and pride up off of the ground that I left her on". Aife laughed.
Kenzi silently gasped. Trick was dead once Bo found out that he gave her mother up to the Dark Fae. And so was she if she didn't tell her what she just heard. This was one secret that nobody could keep from Bo. She snuck away when they weren't looking.
"You left me no choice. You left dead body after dead body in your wake. I told you I was handling things but you didn't stop! Trick snapped.
"You move like a turtle. I move like a cheetah. Besides I knew you were just stalling because you were afraid. I didn't care, they deserved to die! Had you not buried them, I would bring them back to life and kill them again! Aife snapped. She still sorely missed her mother. Naming Bo after her worked for a short time but it stung more when she realized Isabeau would never see nor meet her namesake.
"I was handling it! Trick screamed. Aife wasn't the only one missing Isabeau. He was the Blood King and even his powers couldn't bring his beloved Succubus back. He was in the middle of making arrangements for her burial when news spread that Aife had snapped and gone on a rampage. It turned out to be the deadliest he had seen in years. Light Fae, Dark Fae, whomever happened to be in her path.
"I will never forgive you for that. You just let them live. Let them run. Let them breathe! Aife snapped.
"I was handling it and you forget that she was my wife! Trick screamed again. Aife had him so worked up that his face was apple read.
"And Isabeau is my daughter! Mine! You will not get her harmed or killed like you did mother with your bumbling search parties". Aife said coldly staring at the Blood King.
"Serena would have found her! Trick said.
"Well the only thing she will find now are maggots". Aife laughed.
Trick shook his head. He had to get those bodies out of his bar and he knew Aife wasn't about to touch them again. He had no idea where Kenzi had vanished to and frankly didn't care at the moment.
Police station.
Dyson decided to dive into his work. He needed something to keep his mind off of Bo. Bo was still so young how did she think she could just run out into unknown danger and survive?
Luckily Hale had a brand new case. There had been a ton of dead Fae bodies discovered on top of each other in a field. They had sent the meat wagons for them. But for now they needed to find out who and what did that to them. They hadn't even seen the bodies yet but wanted to hit the ground running in the mean time.
He heard a scuffle at the door behind him. His nose gave him all the clues he 1needed as to who was causing the trouble. Kenzi.
"I'm telling you that I know Detective Thornwood and I need to see him right now! Kenzi groaned. The flat foot didn't know who he was holding back and dealing with.
"I got this guys". Dyson groaned. He had just begun to read the notes Hale had taken on the case.
"Finally. Geez. You were acting like you couldn't hear my pleas over there". Kenzi said following Dyson to his desk and plopped into the seat next to it.
"Kenzi I am always glad to see you but what is it? I'm busy". Dyson said.
"It's Bo". Kenzi said catching her breath. She had nearly run to the precinct.
"What? Did Trick find her? Dyson asked.
"No. Trick doesn't know where she is. It's what Bo doesn't know that I'm worried about". Kenzi said.
"What? What doesn't Bo know? Dyson asked.
"Well according to the super-sized Succubus, Trick gave said Succubus to the Dark Fae". Kenzi shuddered. Just saying it out loud felt like someone was already sucking the chi and life out of her.
"Kenzi. Listen carefully. Leave this alone". Dyson said.
"Awww Dyson! Don't tell me you knew about this! Kenzi said.
"Kenzi leave it alone". Dyson whispered.
"Well shit. We are all dead then". Kenzi said.
"No we're not. Just keep your mouth shut and nothing will happen". Dyson said.
"One. I won't lie to Bo about this. Not saying anything to her about this would be lying. Two. Nobody can shut Aife up, not even Trick. This is bound to get out! We're screwed! Kenzi said.
"No we're not. Bo won't hurt us as long as we keep this quiet". Dyson said turning his attention back to his paperwork.
"Dude look how fast she went after Lauren. We won't have to worry about Bo. Her Succubus will surface and then we're screwed! Kenzi screamed. She didn't care who heard her either. She hadn't known Bo long but had a front row seat when Bo's Succubus surfaced the night she slept with Lauren. She looked hurt and pissed off at the same time.
"I'm telling you to let this go and besides even if Bo finds out, you and I both know she won't stay mad at us longer than a day or so". Dyson said. It was true. Bo never stayed mad at them long. From all that they had seen and heard, Bo was a big teddy bear with them.
Bo
Well I had gotten a nap in. This place was bitterly cold but perhaps that was just me. I tossed and turned on the rickety cot that I found. After I woke up and got my bearings, I realized the nightmare was true.
Lauren's here and she has a gf. A living breathing walking and back from her coma gf. Some will think I should have left her be. No. I had the chance and means to save her and I did.
I had showered after I woke up. I needed to clear my head but it didn't work at all. My head was still clouded. It was clouded with knowing that I was alone again. Sure I could go home and sleep with Dyson or any Fae of my choice but my heart wouldn't be in it.
My heart is upstairs attending to Nadia. I wanted to curse the Ash all the way out. He was a pompous bastard, I just didn't know to what extent, until now.
I saw a small gym when I was scouring the place earlier. I would be using that very soon. I needed to punch something. To work off the anger in the pit of my stomach. The only good thing was the Ash was dead. There was nothing tying Lauren to the Fae anymore. When I saw her I didn't even notice if she was still wearing that cursed necklace.
When I ripped it off of her neck, that was the only time that she likely felt free from it. I cringed when I remembered throwing it back to the ground after picking it up telling her not to forget it. I would love to see her throw that thing into one of the many fireplaces I saw here.
While in the shower I did make some decisions. Hard ones but needed ones. I decided that I can't go home yet. That wouldn't stop me from worrying about Lauren. My second decision revolves around the first. I need to stay here. I need and want to stay here The Fae and the human world were still after them. Mostly Lauren. I didn't see anything on her wrap sheet that indicated that Nadia was in on what they had accused her of. I had another idea and I would need to sit outside or call a local police department. I would first need to decide which of my fake IDs I would use to execute my plan. Back to my bags I go.
Lauren and Nadia.
"Nadia please let me help you! Lauren groaned. From what she could see Nadia was having dizzy spells.
"I'm fine Lauren and I'm almost done". Nadia said shaking off the latest episode.
Lauren thought about Taft for a moment. He really loaded this compound up. Every room had a small shower. Every room but his office that is but there was one just outside of it. She watched Nadia brush her teeth and got an idea when she saw her use a cup to rinse her mouth out with.
"Ok. Ok. I will wait right here until you are done". Lauren said. Nadia had lost a bit of weight. The clothes Lauren gave her were nearly hanging off of her.
Nadia was relieved that Lauren had stopped hovering over her. The shower had felt wonderful. She felt nice and clean. Putting her toothbrush and the cup down, she wiped her hands on a towel and was about to throw the cup away when Lauren stopped her.
"No! I will clean all of that up. Why don't you make your way to the bed and then we can do something about getting us something to eat". Lauren said.
"Food finally! I'm starving for a pizza and a beer! Nadia smiled.
"I will call and have one delivered". Lauren said.
"Don't they have a tv in this joint? Nadia asked.
"I'm sure we can find one". Lauren said. She hadn't paid much attention to see if there was one. She was only focused on getting Nadia into a bed so she could start working on her.
"What day is it? Nadia asked. She didn't see a calendar anywhere. Or a clock.
Lauren swallowed hard. That was going to be the toughest question yet that she needed to answer. She couldn't say the words, so she just handed her a small calendar with the date circled.
"What the hell Lauren! Nadia screamed.
"Nadia I need you to listen to me". Lauren said softly.
"It's been five years! Nadia screamed again.
"I...I know. I was trying to wake you up Nadia. I swear I was! Lauren screamed.
"Trying?! I noticed that you have yet to try and tell me why that Succubus woke me up and you didn't! Nadia snapped.
Lauren swallowed hard as her face went sheet white. "What?
TBC